ANAHEIM, Calif.—This year, the dream of a Freeway Series finally could become reality.

After 51 seasons of Southern Californians staring down Interstate 5 at each other—some from the north and some from the south—this was the season when expectations could be met by each team. A Freeway Series actually could determine something other than the final man on the bench or in the bullpen, as is the case when the teams meet in March.

The Angels' rotation is trying to get by without ace Jered Weaver, who is recovering from an injury to his non-throwing elbow. (AP Photo)

Right now, that is difficult for some to believe, especially those who like to hate on big-spending teams or those who actually saw serious flaws with each roster on April 1. Matt Kemp has heard boos at Dodger Stadium thanks to his uncanny ability to strike out with men on base. Josh Hamilton had his new fans in suspense as to when his batting average finally would crack .200 (a 4-for-4 night Monday lifted it above that wretched mark).

Neither team has been impressive. Each managed a double-digit loss total before earning its ninth win. Each has struggled to hit and pitch at different times (and some nights both), and each has dropped series to contenders and non-contenders.

The pressure continues to mount because they play in an athletic universe where expectations are directly tied to the payroll—the Dodgers have this season’s highest payroll and the Angels are fifth—and the superstars earning those dollars.

“I feel like that’s something that’s just there. Why deny it?” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said during spring training when asked about the pressure. “Why run away from it? It’s going to be there. That’s just us being realistic.”

As Kemp, Hamilton and others have struggled to produce, injuries also have plagued each club and contributed to the sluggish starts.

On the Dodgers side are shortstop Hanley Ramirez and co-ace Zack Greinke. And with Chad Billingsley (Tommy John surgery) and Chris Capuano (calf) injured and Aaron Harang now with the Seattle Mariners, the Dodgers’ starting pitching surplus has vanished. There also have been whispers from scouts that Kemp’s approach at the plate resembles that of a guy still bothered by a surgically repaired left shoulder.

For the Angels, the injured include ace Jered Weaver, shortstop Erick Aybar, third baseman Alberto Callaspo and relievers Ryan Madson and Kevin Jepsen. The walking wounded yet to make the disabled list include slugger Albert Pujols and reliever Sean Burnett.

Weaver, who fractured his left (non-throwing) elbow when trying to brace himself as he ducked out of the way of a comebacker in his second start, is scheduled to play catch Wednesday. That prompted a beat reporter to ask manager Mike Scioscia if Weaver is “ahead of schedule.”

“Well, we expected him to have about seven starts for us at this point,” Scioscia quipped. “So I’d say no.”

Fans don’t want to hear the injury excuses, and neither do the front-office executives who sign these massive checks. Thus, injuries won’t take either manager off the hot seat.

Mattingly isn’t signed beyond this season and the new ownership team inherited him. If the Dodgers can’t turn it around, it will surprise no one if Mattingly is pushed out. That is despite the fact that the team’s flaws shouldn’t be a reflection on the manager, who is very much respected in his clubhouse.

Scioscia is under contract through the 2018 season, but Moreno and general manager Jerry Dipoto won’t be afraid to swing the ax if the Angels continue to slump. Scioscia can’t help it if some of his stars aren’t producing or if his best pitcher can’t catch return throws from a catcher. But wins matter more than the accurate placement of blame when stakes are this high.

It is easy to predict Kemp and Hamilton will start hitting like superstars and that the Dodgers’ and Angels’ rotations will stabilize once Weaver and Greinke return. That would lead to more wins and each manager retaining his job for at least the remainder of this summer.

Such an improvement wouldn’t change the lofty expectations, however. These teams were constructed to win a World Series immediately. With the Los Angeles Lakers looking like first-round lambs in the NBA playoffs, the spotlight on the Dodgers and Angels is about to get hotter. And only winning will provide any shade.